Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 4

Archibald Dunlap from Augusta County, Virginia was born May 12, 1771, in Campbeltown, Scotland. He arrived in the American Colonies as a child about 1775 with his family. I’ve written three earlier blog posts and will leave links at the end.

Since writing my first Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post, I proved Archibald Jr. is a son of Archibald Sr. and Betsy Dunlap. Letters exchanged between Dunlap cousins in the 1860’s solidify the connection between Archibald Jr.’s children and children of the documented Dunlap’s. Thank you Jerry L. and Wanda Bostic Dunlap for sharing and publishing the Dunlap Family Letters on their excellent website Dunlap Family Tree.

While reading a typewritten transcript of Augusta County, Virginia Marriages compiled by Annie Walker Burns, I spotted a marriage bond for Wm. Buchman and Martha Dunlap dated March 3,1835. Burns recorded Martha as the daughter of Archibald Dunlap. Archibald Dunlap served as a bondsman but I’m uncertain whether its Archibald Sr. or Archibald Jr. Census records later identified ‘Wm. Buchman’ as William Buchanan.

  

 Excerpt from

Virginia Genealogies and County Records

Volume VIII (Eight)

Compiled by Annie Walker Burns

Box 6183, Washington, D. C.

Page 68

Early personal property tax lists place 4^th Great Grandfather in Augusta County, Virginia as early as 1791.

An 1800 personal property tax list revealed Archibald Dunlap owed the tax assessor 60 cents for a tithe and 5 horses.

The next time I discovered him in an official record was the 1810 census:

1810 Federal Census Enumeration

Augusta County, Virginia, Page 12/334

Head of Household: Arch’d Dunlap

2 males under 10 years: sons James and Archibald Jr.

1 male between 10 and 16 years: son Robert

1 male between 16 and 26 years: unknown

1 male between 16 and 45 years: Archibald Sr.

2 females under 10 years: daughters Elizabeth and Martha

2 females between 10 and 16 years: daughters Nancy and Margaret

1 female between 16 and 26 years: unknown

1 female between 26 and 45 years: wife Elizabeth

A young man and woman lived in the Dunlap household, but their relationship to the family is unknown.

4^th Great Grandfather Archibald enlisted in the United States Army Dec. 2, 1813, for a five-year stint. His company commander was Lt. Koontz, and he served in the Artillery. The Register of Enlistments describe Grandfather as 5’6½” tall, blue eyes, brown hair, dark complexion and 45 years of age.

I was delighted to find a physical description of Great Grandfather but was surprised he enlisted in the army at the age of 45. His enlistment occurred during the War of 1812 against the British.

The Army Enlistment Register stated he was a farmer born in Edinburgh, Scotland. My earlier research place Archibald Dunlop’s birth in Campbeltown, Scotland—not Edinburgh. Google mapped a five-hour car drive between Campbeltown and Edinburgh. This is a new development. I must remind myself Grandfather was a small child when he left Scotland perhaps making his early recollections fuzzy. His enlistment age (45 years) calculates to a 1768 birth—not matching Scotland’s People (1771).  See Archibald Dunlap Research Post 3.

I can think of several scenarios to explain the situation so I’m not ready to disregard my earlier research. However, I would very much like finding another birth source.

The Remarks in the Enlistment Records tell Archibald’s military history. Five months after enlisting, he was confined for desertion at Fort Washington, Maryland May 31, 1814. I think Grandfather took on more than he could handle physically and was too old for army life.

Transcription:

D. R. [Descriptive Rolls] Det. Arty Ft. Washington, Md., May 31/14, In for desertion – Capt. Jas Reed’s Co. Book US Arty 1812/15, Present Aug 20 & Dec 1814 – D. R. [Descriptive Rolls] Feby 16, M. R. [Muster Rolls] Feby 18, & M. R. Feby 28/15, Present. Mo

Ret [Returned] May 31, M. R. & I. R. [Muster Roll & Inspection Return] July 31/15, Discharged, April 30/15, old age & Rheumatism – The remark “In 20^th Infy.” appears opp. his name.

 

Printed in the Republican Constellation, Wincester, Virginia

Feb. 5, 1814

As you can see from the above advertisement, Lt. Jacob Kountz offered $10.00 for Grandfather Arch’s capture. It’s curious his age was said to be 42 years contradicting the enlistment register age 45.

His name appeared in muster rolls in August and December of 1814 as well as February 1815. Archibald Dunlap was discharged early April 30, 1815 owing to rheumatism and old age at Fort Washington.

Earlier Posts:

Archibald Dunlap Research Log

Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 2

Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 3

  

Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798-1914; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M233, 81 rolls); Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, 1780’s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 3

Recently I blogged about “The Kerr and Dunlap Families” published in Jed Hotchkiss and Joseph A. Waddell’s Historical Atlas of Augusta County, Virginia. The author didn’t indicate how he obtained the information leaving me to wonder about its accuracy. Documenting the article became my next research job.

I’ve limited myself to the Dunlap family and refer you to blog post “Archibald Dunlap Research Log Post 2” for a partial transcription of the sketch.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

John Dunlap and his wife Nancy whose maiden name was Colvin, resided in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters, . . . Two of the sons settled in Tennessee and Kentucky. Three of them, John, Archibald and Robert settled on the head waters of Middle River, in Riverheads township, Augusta County, Virginia.

My Findings:

There was an Archibald, Robert and John born to John Dunlap and Isabel Colvin in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland. The government web site Scotlands People provided documentation for eight Dunlop children.

Old Parish Records Births, Campbeltown:

1756    

John Dunlop & Isobell Colvin had a Ch. bapt. Margaret January 25^th

1758

John Dunlop & Isobell Colvin had a Ch. bapt. John June 25^th

1760

John Dunlop and Isobell Colvill had a son born 18^th and baptized 20^th Aug^t named James

1762

John Dunlop and Isobel Colvin had Daughter born 17 Dec Baptised 18 name Jenat

1765

John Dunlop & Isabel Colvin had a son born the 3^rd & baptised the 7^th of March called Robert

1767

John Dunlop and Isobell Colvill had Daughter born ye 6^th & bapt ye 8^th Feb^ry named Elizabeth

1769

John Dunlop & Isobel Colvin had a daughter born the 13^th & baptised the 14^th March called Agnes

1771

John Dunlop and Isobell Colvill had a son born 12^th and baptized 16^th May named Archibald

I noted two minor discrepancies from the published article. According to the National Records of Scotland, four sons and four daughters were born in Scotland. The number of children and sons and daughters is different and a question about Great Grandmother’s given name--Nancy or Isabell. Augusta County’s Atlas wasn’t published until 1885 many years after the actual events. It’s easy to understand how memories of events fade.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

John lived with Robert, and died unmarried, aged eighty.

My Findings:

This could be true. John Dunlap’s last will and testament written April 1835 bequeathed his real and personal estate to his brother Robert’s son, William Dunlap. This included a plantation located between his brother’s and Mathew Willson’s lands. It’s difficult to say John lived in his brother’s home but at least nearby. James Trimble, John Kerr and Samuel Kerr served as subscribing witnesses. In June 1839, James Trimble and John Kerr presented the will to the Augusta County Court to be recorded in the County books.

Excerpt from

John Dunlap’s Will

Augusta Co., VA Will Book 22, page 386

Using Scotland’s People’s baptism date 1758 and an approximate death date of 1839 in Augusta County, John Dunlap was about 81 years old when he died. Not exactly as written in the history but close enough.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

. . . Robert Dunlap, who was born 1765 in Campbeltown, Argyleshire, Scotland

My Findings:

Robert’s birth and baptism in March 1765 confirmed as stated above.

From The Kerr and Dunlap Families:

The children of Robert and Margaret were: Elizabeth who married Levi L. Stevenson, of Staunton, Virginia; Isabella, who married Robert Sterrett, of Rockbridge County, Virginia; John, who married Isabella North, of Staunton, Virginia and Isabella Blain, of eastern Virginia; he removed to Atchison County, Missouri; Nancy, who married James A. G. Youell, of Rockbridge County, Virginia; Bailey, born in 1800, who married Sallie Baylor, daughter of George Baylor; settled at Mount Pleasant, near Spring Hill, on Middle river, on a farm once owned by Moffatt; Jane, married David Kerr, of Summerdean, Virginia, grandson of Robert and Elizabeth Kerr; Robert died at the age of twenty-three, unmarried; Madison married Martha McKee, of Rockbridge County, and settled on Kerr’s creek in said county; William, the youngest, married Mary J. Crawford, daughter of Robert Crawford; his second wife was Mrs. Amanda Blair, daughter of Dr. John McChensney.

My Findings:

The Kerr and Dunlap Families sketch reveals an amazingly thorough list of Robert and Margaret Kerr’s children. Robert Dunlap’s probate proceedings beginning April 1847 verify most of his children named above.

Conclusion:

Although I haven’t been able to prove every statement, investigating “The Kerr and Dunlap Families” was beneficial helping to build a backdrop of the extended family. Next time I’ll focus on my ancestor Archibald Dunlap.